Phuket death hill bus, truck ban during rush hours

From May 1, in a new attempt to prevent crashes on Patong Hill large buses and trucks will not be allowed through the checkpoint in Thung Thong and onto the hill during morning and evening rush hours.

Thung Tong Superintendent Pol Maj Aekkarat Plaiduang told The Phuket News today, “We have to do this because there is a lot of traffic during peak hours.

“This results in buses and trucks having to use their air brakes too often. Accidents happen when the brakes run out of air.

He said the road will be closed every day to trucks with more than 10 wheels and large buses from 6 to 9 am and from 4 to 7 pm. The drivers will have to go to Patong via Cherng Talay and Kamala [to the north], or Kata and Karon [to the south] instead, he said.

“If buses and trucks try to go along this road during the times of the bans, they will be fined up to a maximum of B2,000.”

He also noted that police at the checkpoint are still spot-checking truck and bus drivers for abuse of alcohol or drugs.

He added that it had been found that many of the buses that have been involved in crashes on the hill were not inspected in Phuket, but in Phang Nga or Krabi “because it is difficult to pass the test at the Phuket Transport Department”.